‘I’m scared’: South Koreans report UFO sighting after secret rocket launch
- The military on Friday test-fired a solid-fuelled rocket without notifying the general public because it involved sensitive military security issues
- The launch set South Korean social media abuzz, with some saying they saw mysterious lights, and others speculating it was a drone light show or a supernatural phenomenon
South Korea’s military confirmed it test-fired a solid-fuelled rocket on Friday after its unannounced launch triggered brief public scare of a suspected UFO appearance or a North Korean missile launch.
The Defence Ministry said in a statement that the rocket launch was part of its efforts to build a space-based surveillance capability and bolster its defence posture.
It said it did not notify the general public of the launch in advance because it involved sensitive military security issues.
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“What is this? Is this a UFO? I’m scared,” said one Twitter user. Another said they suspected it was a North Korean missile launch and worried about a war. Others suspected it was a drone light show or a supernatural phenomenon.
South Korean emergency offices and police received hundreds of citizens’ reports of witnessing of a suspicious flying object and mysterious lights across the country, according to local media.
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South Korean officials said they plan to use a solid-fuelled rocket to put the nation’s first spy satellite into orbit. In March, South Korea conducted its first successful launch of a solid-fuel rocket.
Solid-fuel rockets reduce launch times, have simpler structures and are cheaper to develop and manufacture than liquid-fuel rockets, South Korean officials said.
The Defence Ministry said Friday’s launch was a follow-up test of the March launch.
Earlier this year, North Korea performed a record number of missile tests in what experts call a bid to prefect its nuclear weapons technology and boost its leverage in future dealings with the United States.